Chapter 167

The Martial Alliance swiftly and neatly concluded the transfer procedures for the Wind Chasing Unit. By doing so, they made it clear that the Martial Alliance was not directly involved in the Sword Family Blood Feud, thus dousing the sparks of the Jeongsa Great War.

If it’s a trick, it’s a trick. If the Black Martial Alliance decided to pick a fight, the sparks could reignite, but there was no news from the Black Martial Alliance.

The Black Martial Alliance during the Jeongsa Great War and the current Black Martial Alliance are different. Before the war, the Black Martial Alliance was made up of those who had nothing to lose. They were challengers opposing the existing hegemony. Now, they have long become another hegemony.

Once they have something to lose, it won’t be easy for them to act as aggressively as they did during the Jeongsa Great War.

Having completely wrapped up the opening of the second act of the Sword Family Blood Feud, Namgung Woo stopped by the Moyong Family as planned, showed his face, and then crossed the waterfall.

Unlike when he visited the Moyong Family, now Namgung Woo was alone.

Though Paeng Ha-ryeong silently expressed her desire to follow, Namgung Woo gently sent her back.

It wasn’t just a matter of courtesy to Princess Jihyang, who had suddenly taken care of Cheongdangon, but since the Yi Royal Residence had formally invited only Namgung Woo, he decided to go alone.

It was his first alone time in a while.

However, Namgung Woo’s mind was still filled with thoughts.

“The battle with the Beonse Sect isn’t far off… is it?”

The words spoken by Gakwon at the Martial Alliance lingered in his mind.

If it were someone else’s words, he might have brushed them off, but since it was Gakwon, it was different.

Gakwon had opened his Upper Dantian and achieved the Five Origins Unity long before Namgung Woo.

Just as Namgung Woo had gained immunity to mental abilities through the Void Spirit Divine Art, separate from his innate Upper Dantian ability, Azure Tranquility Eyes, Gakwon had also unlocked the Six Divine Powers through Shaolin Temple’s Buddhist martial arts.

Mind-Reading Power, Divine Foot Power, Heavenly Ear Power. Though he hadn’t yet unlocked the Three Brights, even with just these three powers, Gakwon’s words carried weight.

Who knows if he heard the whispers of the heavens.

If Gakwon said so, it was highly likely to come true. At least 60%, generally 70-80%, and at most 90% of what he said would come to pass.

“Right now, Dongbang Hwa is the priority. The Beonse Sect will be found by the Martial Alliance anyway.”

Though the Wind Chasing Unit was gone, the Martial Alliance had mobilized the entire White Path Martial World. Since the Beonse Sect had already stepped out of the shadows, it wouldn’t be long before their true form was revealed.

Namgung Woo’s role would naturally become clear when that time came.

Thud.

As Namgung Woo’s footsteps halted, the massive gate blocking his path opened.

A gate so large it could be called a city gate. The guards of the Yi Royal Residence, seemingly familiar with Namgung Woo’s identity, let him in without much inspection.

Tap tap tap tap-

The sound of footsteps running towards him reached Namgung Woo’s ears.

The footsteps were light, as if using a light-body technique, but there was a certain weight to them, suggesting they were carrying something other than their own body.

As the image of the person naturally formed in Namgung Woo’s mind, his vision confirmed it.

“Namgung-nim!”

Princess Jihyang, running towards him with Cheongdangon in her arms.

Cheongdangon, held by its front legs, dangled its lower body, already accustomed to this treatment, making no sound.

“It doesn’t seem like a good way to hold it.”

“It’s fine! Goni is tough.”

Is it because it’s a spirit beast…?

Well, it’s a smart creature. If it were really in pain, it would’ve cried out.

“Let’s go! Uncle, no, His Highness Yi has been waiting to see you.”

Princess Jihyang’s voice was filled with excitement.

She seemed more lively than before. Maybe something good had happened.

‘Well, good things are good, I guess.’

§

The three-way meeting with Ju Si-yeol, Princess Jihyang, and Namgung Woo proceeded somewhat as Namgung Woo had expected.

It was a repetition of things he had heard several times before, like “I didn’t know it was the Namgung Family, so that’s why they were so strong.”

The variation began when Ju Si-yeol asked if Namgung Woo intended to rebuild the Namgung Family.

Namgung Woo laid out his desires directly.

He wasn’t used to beating around the bush, and he thought being straightforward would be more effective.

The Ju Si-yeol he saw was a king who considered himself a martial artist. He would prefer such a direct confrontation over political maneuvering.

“First, I plan to capture Dongbang Hwa.”

“Dongbang Hwa, you say?”

“Twenty years ago, when my family was destroyed, many parts of the family were lost. Fortunately, the Small History Elder survived, so we can recover some, but there are still many gaps.”

At the mention of the Small History Elder, Ju Si-yeol’s expression faltered slightly.

Namgung Woo didn’t know this, but the Small History Elder was originally a position that managed the ancestral order of the royal family.

The Namgung surname has its roots in the Ji surname of the Zhou Dynasty’s royal family. During the Yin Dynasty, they lived in the southern palace, hence the name Namgung (Southern Palace), which eventually became their surname.

The Namgung Family took pride in this history and sought to display their nobility through the position of the Small History Elder.

As a member of the royal family who had read the classics, Ju Si-yeol understood this immediately but didn’t press the issue.

It wasn’t unusual for martial families to use titles like “Emperor” or “King” despite the existence of the royal family.

One position like the Small History Elder wasn’t a big deal.

“I suspect Dongbang Hwa has information that can fill those gaps.”

Ju Si-yeol’s reaction was quite impressive.

Though flustered, it was a pleasant kind of fluster that made his facial muscles twitch.

“This is quite…”

Is this what they call a meeting of minds?

Ju Si-yeol had been wondering how to broach the subject, but Namgung Woo brought it up first, making it hard to hide his delight.

‘I was planning to get closer to Hwa first and then bring it up when we were close enough.’

Peerless Masters are inherently self-centered.

Those who have practiced Buddhist or Taoist arts are less so, but they’re not much different.

So rather than being high-handed, he planned to bring it up as a family matter after the marriage with Princess Jihyang was properly arranged. But it seems that wasn’t necessary.

“Since you brought it up first, I’ll say this: I was planning to make a similar request to the Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion.”

After Princess Jihyang arrived, Ju Si-yeol sent a letter to Beijing assuring them that he would protect Princess Gasang well.

Since then, he had been in regular contact with Han Gyeran, who was worried about Princess Jihyang. And recently, Ju Si-yeol received another letter with different contents.

“It’s embarrassing to say, but the royal family is currently heavily influenced by Man Gwibi.”

The empress’s deposition, the killing of concubines and princes, placing her own people in key positions.

Man Gwibi’s atrocities were not something that could be hidden. But the emperor’s favor towards her was so deep that everyone turned a blind eye.

Even with such a villainess by his side, rumors of the current emperor being a wise ruler circulated, showing that he was indeed capable. If not for Man Gwibi, he might have been called a sage ruler.

But unfortunately, the emperor’s legitimacy and abilities became Man Gwibi’s shield.

“After the Crown Prince ascended, Man Gwibi’s power seemed to weaken, but the recent turmoil reversed the situation.”

The Eastern Palace, referring to the Crown Prince, was so named because the Crown Prince resided in the eastern palace, much like how Namgung originated from the southern palace.

Despite Man Gwibi’s persistent attempts to kill the princes, the third prince, who had narrowly escaped her grasp, was raised to become the Crown Prince.

Man Gwibi’s first prince died young, and the second prince, born to a concubine, was poisoned along with his mother. The third prince was the result of many people’s efforts to keep him out of Man Gwibi’s reach.

Man Gwibi had her own plans, hoping to raise the third prince to be loyal to her like the current emperor, but the royal elders and ministers succeeded in taking the prince’s upbringing away from her.

As a result, Man Gwibi was cornered.

The third prince’s mother was poisoned by Man Gwibi in her rage.

If the third prince ascended the throne free from Man Gwibi’s influence… her end was as clear as day.

Thus, Man Gwibi stopped restraining herself and began interfering in politics again.

And her schemes succeeded. A pillar supporting the royal family collapsed, creating a huge gap for her to exploit.

“The void left by Kang Yonghu is too great…”

Ju Si-yeol muttered as if lamenting.

The Imperial Guards were already filled with those coveting their power.

The royal guards, both protectors of the royal family and executioners of purges. The Imperial Guards, established with the founding of the Ming Dynasty, were further strengthened by the Yongle Emperor. Though the Eastern Depot was a separate intelligence agency, in terms of actual military power, it couldn’t compare to the Imperial Guards.

The Eastern Depot, composed of eunuchs who were naturally closer to the emperor, and the Imperial Guards, who maintained a balance of power with them.

The existence of the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Gwak Dan, was so significant that it elevated the Imperial Guards, once considered a step below the Eastern Depot, to an equal standing.

But now, the Imperial Guards were being completely absorbed.

Not by their long-standing rival, the Eastern Depot, but by a newly emerged organization, the Western Depot.

“The Western Depot’s Director, Wang Jik, is Man Gwibi’s man. The Western Depot has absorbed the Imperial Guards.”

The Beijing Turmoil caused by Yi Ja-ryong made the Seonghwa Emperor even more reliant on intelligence. The Eastern Depot, which failed to notice (or perhaps hid) the occupation of Manse Mountain by Yi Ja-ryong, lost the emperor’s trust, leading to the creation of a new agency.

The Western Depot, formally known as the Western Depot of the Imperial Secret Police, was established to gather intelligence and counter the Eastern Depot.

Originally, the Eastern Depot held more power than the Imperial Guards, so the Seonghwa Emperor allowed the Western Depot to take control of the Imperial Guards to build a stronger force.

Such a thing would have been unimaginable when Gwak Dan was alive and leading the Imperial Guards, but Gwak Dan was no more. Losing their leader, the Imperial Guards quickly sought a new patron and joined the Western Depot.

“With the Eastern Depot unable to function properly after Yi Ja-ryong’s rebellion, and the Imperial Guards now under the Western Depot’s control, Beijing and the Forbidden City are practically in Man Gwibi’s hands.”

Of course, all this power was based on the solid foundation of imperial authority. If the emperor changed his mind and ordered the Western Depot disbanded, it would vanish like a mirage. But everyone knew the emperor wouldn’t do that.

If he felt his imperial authority was truly threatened, he might intervene, but not now.

“If the Western Depot continues to act so brazenly, I estimate it will be abolished within five years. But what might happen in Beijing during those five years is anyone’s guess. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager are deeply concerned.”

The possible repetition of the Crown Prince’s assassination.

There’s no one to trust.

The Imperial Guards, who were supposed to protect the royal family, have become the Western Depot’s lackeys. The fear that the Imperial Guards might turn into assassins at any moment has gripped the anti-Man Gwibi faction.

Though there’s the royal family’s top martial artist, Haedong Mubi, she can’t be there 24/7.

They sought answers from outside.

“If possible, they asked if we could find a trustworthy martial artist here.”

Martial Village Luoyang is the heart of the White Path Martial World. There’s no better place to find a trustworthy master.

There’s the Loyalist Five Martial Families, but their situation isn’t ideal. The Shinchang Yang Family has deployed most of its forces to the northeast, the three families are too far from Beijing, and the Shanxi Zhongli Family just had a change in leadership, leaving no room to look outward.

So the only option left is to seek help from the external kings and the martial world.

“Not entering the tiger’s den, how can one catch the tiger’s cub? Dongbang Hwa must be close to Man Gwibi. What do you say? Will the Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion take on this task?”

And take our niece with you to properly meet the family.

Swallowing the last part, Ju Si-yeol made an offer Namgung Woo couldn’t refuse.